Mauritanian political crisis deepens

2009-03-25

The political crisis in Mauritania takes a turn for the worse, with just over two months remaining before the June 6th presidential elections.

By Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 25/03/09

[Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud] Mauritanians look to newspapers and the internet for objective political coverage.

Mauritania's political crisis worsened this week, following a statement by French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner. In a March 20th interview with Jeune Afrique, Kouchner stated that General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Chairman of the High Council of State, "has to take off his military uniform at least 45 days before the presidential election that is slated for June 6th, 2009".

Some read Kouchner's comment as legitimising the elections, which will be boycotted by the opposition and by ousted president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi.

"I don't think that these statements express France's official stance, and therefore I don't want to comment on them," Ahmed Ould Sambe, official spokesperson for the ousted president, told Magharebia.

"Our position is focused on the initiative launched sometime ago by [Abdellahi], which calls for foiling the coup first," he continued. "Then the political parties may convene and decide the future of the country. This will put an end to coups and establish the democratic process."

The situation is dire, according to political analyst and former ambassador Mohamed Lemeine Ould Kettab. "The political crisis is too complicated to predict what's going to happen. This is because all parties are insisting on their positions, and they are rejecting any compromises," he said.

"I think that international entities such as the European Union will influence the parties' stances, get them to make concessions, and reach the understanding that will pave the way for diffusing the crisis," he added.

Mauritanian citizens are following the developments in the crisis by turning to newspapers and the internet.

"Television and radio stations in the country are still monopolised by the state, and therefore, reflect only one point of view that supports the military rulers," explained Mohamed Ahmed, a merchant. "Therefore, I prefer browsing websites and reading newspapers on a daily basis to know the stances of all sides, not just one side."

He then added, "Those who oppose the governing authority have limited capabilities; they don't own TV channels or radio stations. That's why they resort to the foreign media and the press to pass on their ideas and opinions."

"The Minister of Information said recently that his government would open up the national TV and radio stations to all sides," commented political observer Bounene Ould Sidi. "However, this has not happened so far and there is no sign that it will happen in the near future."

Meanwhile, Ould Abdel Aziz is currently making field visits in the northern and eastern provinces of the country, explaining the principles and goals of his military movement and criticising his opponents.

"The corrective move was made to stop the corruption and corrupters, and to establish a new movement in which the people will govern themselves by themselves, and elect with full transparency whoever they want to run their affairs," he said yesterday in a town in the eastern part of the country. "I advise everyone to participate in the next presidential elections."

President of the National Front for the Defence of Democracy Beijel Ould Hemeid told the press two days ago that Ould Abdel Aziz was leading "an early electoral campaign in the internal provinces at the expense of public money."

On Tuesday (March 24th), Ahmed Ould Daddah, head of the opposition Rally for Democratic Forces (RFD), announced that he would not run in the next elections.

"The nomination of General Ould Abdel Aziz in the next presidential elections is banned under Mauritanian and international laws."

He added that the African Charter bans anyone who participated in a coup against constitutional rule from participating in a government elected after the coup.

"This article was ratified by the two chambers of the Mauritanian Parliament, and it was also signed by the President on April 29th, 2008."

The African Union's Peace and Security Council met on Tuesday (March 24th) in Addis Ababa, opting to maintain sanctions against the Mauritanian regime.

Most Mauritanians were surprised by the council's decision, as they had assumed the AU would accept the fait accompli.

"In all frankness, we did not expect to hear this decision coming from Addis Ababa on behalf of the African Union; especially given that Leader Moamer Kadhafi... supports the High Council of State," said Al-Mahd Ould Aal, a currency exchange agent. "Today, they come out with this strong language."

Al-Dah Ould Al-Mami, a teacher, echoed the above sentiment, adding, "This means that the African Union does not trust its own leadership, first and foremost. This also means that Kadhafi's decision has become nothing more than his personal opinion."